Sanitary toilet seat



Sept. 13, 1966 G. M. TROMP 3,271,792

SANITARY TOILET SEAT Filed July 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IL--las 2\ 11i-1h36 "11 fp" 154'!" gli UL l 1v 'u IHM -gl'l G. M. TRoMP 3,271,792

SANITARY TOILET SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMM! www ALM NN m m EL United States Patent O 3,271,792 SANITARY TOILET SEAT Gerardus Marinus Tromp, 1132 Van Alkemadelaan, The Hague, Netherlands Filed July 3, 1963, Ser. No. 292,706 7 Claims. (Cl. 4247) This invention relates to a sanitary toilet seat.

In toilet seats, the need for higher hygenic requirements has been felt for a long time and several proposals have been made to solve this problem. S-uch santiary ,seats are in particular required in hospitals, airplanes, hotels, etc.

Several devices have already been proposed to renew a paper cover over part of the seat or over the entire seat automatically. However, to the known devices so many inconveniences are inherent, that practically nowhere such automatic devices are in use and preference is given to the use of loose covers, which after use have to be flushed or thrown away.

In the automatic devices it is known to make use of the pivoting (swinging) movement of the seat to pull through a strip of paper directly or to `Start an electric drive mechanism to do this. This latter type is inherently expensive and needs constant supervision of a technician, whereas the manually operated devices are subject to fouling, or need special attention to be operated, or operate heavily, so as to cause fractures in the toilet bowl, and in general they are unaesthetic.

In general it is known in -these devices to make use of springs to return the seat from the substantially horizontal in-use position to the vertical position on release and to make use of knives to cut off the used strip. The use of knives, the same way as a pair of scissors is used, has turned out to be heavily operated and subject t blunting Object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat of the hand operated type in which the cutting mechanism operates lightly, is not subject to blunting and is entirely built in the seat, thus responding to high aesthetic standards.

Another object of the invention is to cut 011 and shift the paper cover over the seat, by the downward movement of the seat, so that the occupant sees that he (she) will sit l,on a piece of cle-an paper. Still another object is to provide a brake mechanism to brake the ,return movement from the horizontal to the v-ertical position of the seat, so that the seat may hold itself substantially in its horizontal position for half a minute or more, as required.

A further object is to provide an inexpensive and `corrosion resistant sanitary toilet seat.

This invention provides for a ,toilet seat adapted to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis between a substantially vertical and a substantially horizontal position relative to a toilet bowl, said seat being formed with two hollow seat cushions, each housing a web of paper, a strip of which being adapted to be drawn over the seat cushion, clamped and cut off on the other side of the seat cushion by a mechanism comprising two rolls, at least one roll being adapted to be rotated by means of the swinging movement of `the seat, one roll being .provided with a't least one rib extending substantially the length of the said one roll, the other roll being provided with a groove corresponding with the rib on the said one roll.

Further objects and advantages will `be apparent from ,n l'

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section along the line lII-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section along the line IV--IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section along the line V-V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section along the line VI-VI of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. l the toilet seat consists essentially of two hollow arms 1 interconnected at the rear ends by a connecting member 2 and at the front by a bracket 3. The hollow arms 1 are adapted t-o pivot about spindles 4 (FIG. 2) rigidly fastened to the bowl (not shown in the drawing).

`On each of the arms 1 has been formed a raised cushion 5 in which a web of paper 6 is accommodated. For inserting this web of paper a top portion of the cushion can be lifted. A strip 7 of the web of paper 6 is pulled between the top portion adapted to be lifted and the fixed portion of the seat cushion via the outside of the seat cushion and over the seat cushion and is returned to the inside, where the strip is guided between two rolls 8 and 9 fitted on the inside of the hollow chamber of the seat cushion. To facilitate the insertion of the strip of paper 7, a paper guide 10 is formed in the interior of the hollow seat cushion.

In roll `8 has been formed a groove 11 cooperating with a rib 12 provided on roll 9. The shape of the corresponding groove and rib is preferably helical and may extend over 360 or more, when a single rib and corresponding groove are used.

To ensure a correct synchronization of the rolls 8 and 9, at the ends of the rolls meshing gear wheels 13 and 14 are rigidly connected with the rolls. For a correct operation the engage-ment of the rib in the groove in itself acts as a synchronizing means, but if it is desired to keep the rib 12 free of the walls of the groove 11 during operation the meshing gear wheels may `be provided.

The cutting action is effected by the rib 12 being forced into the paper clamped on either side of the groove 11. Actually the paper is not cut olf but rather torn ofr. On account of the helical shape the tearing action runs lightly and there is practically no question of any wear, whereas such wear is immaterial to the proper functioning of the cutting mechanism.

One or both of the rolls may be coa-ted with a rubberlike material so as to more securely hold the strip of paper.

Also one or both edges of groove 11 in roll 8 may be raised.

Rolls 8 and 9 are driven in one direction by means of a spindle 15 aligned with roll 9 in the embodiment according to the drawing, the roll 9 having an extension of its shaft over which the spindle -1-5 is mounted hub-like.

The rotation of the spindle is effected with the aid of a nylon filament 16 of which the stretch has substantially been re-moved. The filament 16 is secured at one end to the seat "body, is passed by sheaves 17 and 18 and is wound about the hub 15 and secure-d thereto. The sheave 18 has a fixed posit-ion relative to the bowl and to this effect sheave 18 is fitted on an arm connecting sheave 18 with pivot 4. In FIG. 2 in dotted lines has been indicated the position of sheave 18 in the horizontal position of the seat by 1-8. The transmission means of the nylon layment (lwire) 116 functions al-most frictionless, occupy very little space, is extremely cheap and perm-its a free choice between the position of the seat cushion 5 relative to the spindle 4. Sheave 17 is rotatable about a spindle rigidly connected with the hollow arm body.

During the downward movement of the toilet seat the driven spindle 1v5 'is spring biased in rotative sense with the aid of the torsion spring 19. Spring 19 has been selected so that its strength is just enough to raise the toilet seat and is so tensioned that it is practically tensionless in the vertical position of the toilet seat. In this way it is ensured that the nylon filament 16 in the unocc-upied position of the seat is also practically tensionyless, so that this wire is tensioned only while the seat is in use, ensuring a long life.

Between hub and roll 9 a coupling has been provided engaging in one rotational direction only. Hereto the shaft extension (stud) 20 of the driven roll 9 passes concentrically and freely through hub 15. A cylindrical member 21 is fitted concentrically on the stud 20 wit-h the aid of a screw 22 for instance. In this member is for-med a longitudinal groove 23 in which is accommodated one limb of a substantially perpendicularly bent spring-like element 24. The end of the driven hub 15 is provided with Ia recess 25 having on one side an abutment 26 for the end of the spring like element 24. During the downward movement of the toilet seat and consequently while the driven hub 15 is spring biased through the spring-like element 24, at the same time the roll 9 is driven, Whereas during the automatic upward movement due to the release of the spring 19, the above mentioned coupling slips.

During use, it may be advisable that the seat, after having been moved to its substantially horizontal position, maintains this position for a certain space of time. To this effect the return movement is breaked, so that the slowing-down action is very strong during a period of, say, half a minute or one minute and after this period less strong. lFor this purpose a braking mechanism may be provided lformed by a piston 2'8 adapted to move in a cylinder 27, the piston being connected with a member 30, which like sheave 18 has a xed position relative to the bowl, through a piston rod 29. As the toilet seat is moved from the vertical to the horizontal position the piston 28 is pushed into the cylinder 27. In the end wall 31 of the cylinder 27 a small leak 32 is provided, serving to admit air, when the piston is pulled back from the cylinder. To permit air to escape during the entering movement of the piston, the piston is provided with a flexible element 33 having outwardly bent edges 34. When piston 28 is forced into lthe cylinder, enclosed air can escape along the e-dge 34. During the return movement of the piston the bent edge 34 prevents air from getting by the piston. The small leak 32 is intersected by a bore in which a pin may be screwed having a tapered end 35. The tapered end is adapted to almost :close the bore 32, so as to adjust the velocity of the initial return movement of the seat. .In pnactice it has been possible to limit the return movement during a minute to approximately one inch at the front end of the seat. For a faster return movement after this initial strongly braking period, there is provided a bore 36 in the wall of the cylinder having a substantially larger cross-sectional free area than the bore 32, but sufficiently small to effectively brake the remaining return movement of the seat.

Finally, each seat cushion may be provided with a coating of rubber 37 (FIG. 3) so as to prevent paper from slipping over the seat cushion during use.

The t-oilet seat according to the invention operates fully automatically and does not need any particular attention from the user.

Furthermore, if the water closet also serves as a urinal, the seat cannot be fouled by careless use, since it automatically rises to its vertical position after release.

An 'important psychologie feature is that a user, when moving down the toilet seat, clearly sees that the paper is shifted, cut off and deposited in the bowl.

From a mechanical point of View, the operation of the seat is so light, that there is no risk whatsoever of the bowl being damaged, whereas the webs of paper can be inserted in a rapid and simple way and the cutting and rejection of the paper is effected faultlessly.

Both, the seat and the mechanism can be made substantially of corrosion-resistant material, as for instance glass bre reinforced plastic the few parts which have to be of metal, as spring 19, screws, etc., may be of stainles steel or brass.

The construction is extremely simple, durable and suitable `for mass production, so that prices can be kept loiw, whereas the design of the seat may fully satisfy aesthetic requirements.

Pivot 4 may be cemented in t-he toilet borwl, or have a square sunk head or the like.

What I claim is:

1. A toilet seat adapted to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis between a substantially vertical and la substantially horizontal position relative to a toilet bowl, said seat being formed with two hollow seat cushions, each housing a web of paper, a strip of which being adapted to be drawn over the seat cushion, clamped and cut oit on the other side of the seat cushion by a mechanism comprising two rolls, at least one roll being adapted to be rotated by means of the swinging movement of the seat, through a coupling engaging in one rotational direction between the roll and a spindle driven by the swinging movement of the seat, by means of a exible pull member, one end of which is secured to the body of the seat, the flexible pull member being guided successively over a rst sheave having a tixed position relative to Ithe bowl and a second sheave having a fixed position rela-tive to the seat body, the other end of the ilexible pull member wound about the spindle and secured thereto, one roll being provided with at least one rib extending substantially the length of the said one roll, the other roll being provided with a groove corresponding with the rib on the said one roll.

2. A toilet seat adapted to be pivoted about .a substantially horizontal axis between a substantially vertical and `a substantially horizontal position relative to a toilet bowl, said seat being formed with two hollow `seat cushions, each housing a web of paper, a strip 4of ywhich being ladapted to be drawn over the sea-t cushion, clamped `and cut off on the other side of the seat cushion by a mechanism compris ing two rolls, at least one roll being .adapted to be rotated by means of the swinging movement of the seat through a coupling engaging in one rotational direction between the roll and a spindle driven by the swinging movement of the seat, so that by the downward movement of the seat the coupling engages and the spindle is spring biased in rotative sense, by means of la flexible pull member, one end of which is secured to lthe body of the seat, the flexible pull member being guided successively over a rst sheave having a fixed position relative to the bowl and a second sheave having a xed position relative to the seat body, the other end of the exible pull member being wound about the spindle and secured thereto, one roll being provided ywith at least one rib extending substantially the length of the said one roll, the other roll being provided with a groove corresponding with the rib on the said one roll.

3. A toilet -seat adapted to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis between a substantially vertical and a substantially horizontal position relative to a toilet bowl, said seat being formed with two hollow seat cushions, each housing a web of paper, a strip of which being adapted t-o be drawn over the seat cushion, clamped and cut off on the other side of the seat lcushion by a mechanism comprising two rolls, at least one roll being adapted to be rotated by means of the swinging movement of the set through a coupling engaging in one rotational direction between the -roll and a spindle drivenby the swinging movement of Ithe seat, by means of a ilexible pull member, one end of which is secured to the body of the seat, the flexible pull member being guided successively over a first sheave having la xed position relative to the bowl and a second sheave having a xed position relative to the seat body, the other end of the flexible pull member being wound about the spindle and secured thereto, so that Yby the downward movement of the seat the Icoupling engages :and the spindle is spring biased in rotative sense, the up- 'ward movement of the seat on release being slowed down by a braking means adapted to slow down the movement first strongly and afterwards less strongly, one roll being provided with at least one rib extending substantially the length of the said one roll, the other roll being provided with .a groove corresponding with the rib on the said one roll.

4. A toilet seat adapted to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal :axis between a substantially vertical fand :a substantially horizontal position relative to a toilet bowl, said seat being formed with two hollow seat cushions, each housing a web of paper, a strip of which being adapted to be `drawn over the sea-t cushion, clamped and cut olf on the other side of the seat cushion by a mechanism comprising two rolls, at least one roll being adapted to be rotated by means of the swinging movement of lthe seat through a coupling engaging in one rotational direction between the roll and a spindle driven by the swinging movement of the seat, so that by the `downward movement lof the seat the coupling engages and the spindle is spring biased in rotative sense, the upward movement of the seat on release being slowed down by a piston, adapted to move in -a cylinder, substantially closed at ione end and a piston rod connecting the piston with a pivot having a fixed position relative to the bowl and located away from Ithe axis of rotation of the seat, said piston having a flexible discshaped member with bent edges engaging the walls of the cylinder Iand turned away from the closed end of the cylinder, in the closed end of the cylinder being provided a small leak :and in the cylinder wall at some distance from the closed end being provided a larger leak, one roll being provided with at least one rib extending substantially the length of the said one roll, the other roll being provided with `a groove corresponding with -the rib on the said one Iroll.

5. A toilet seat :adapted to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis between a substantially vertical and ya substantially horizontal position relative t0 a toilet bowl, said seat being formed with two hollow seat cushions, each housing :a 'web of paper, a strip of which being adapted to be drawn over the seat cushion, clamped and cut off on the other side of the seat cushion by `a mechanism comprising two rolls, at least one roll being adapted to be rotated by means of the swinging movement of the seat through a coupling engaging in one rotational direction between the roll and a spindle driven by the swinging movement ofthe seat by means of a flexible pull member, one end of which is secured to the body of the seat, the flexible pull member being guided successively over a rst sheave having .a iixed position relative to the bowl and a second sheave having a ixed position relative to the seat body, the lother end of the exible pull member being wound about the spindle and secured lthereto so that by the downward movement of the seat the coupling engages and the spindle is spring biased in rotative sense, the up- Ward movement of the seat on release being slowed down by a piston, adapted to move in ia cylinder, substantially closed at one end and a piston rod connecting the piston with a pivot having -a xed position relative to the bowl and located laway from the axis of rotation of the seat, said piston having a flexible disc-shaped member with bent edges engaging the walls of the cylinder and turned away from the closed end of the cylinder, in the closed end of the cylinder being provided a small leak and in the cylinder wall :at some distance from the closed end being provided :a larger leak, one roll being provided with .at least one rib extending substantially the length of said one roll, the other roll being provided with a groove corresponding with the rib of the said one roll.

6. A toilet seat according to Iclaim 1, in 'which the groove iformed in the said other roll has radially raised edges.

7. A toilet seat according to claim 1, in which the seat cushions are at least partly covered with rubber-like material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 480,494 8/1892 Daniel 4-241 X 1,156,175 10/1915 Rees 4-247 1,589,429 6/ 1926 Rouse 4-247 2,473,082 6/ 1949 Warner 4-251 2,491,187 12/ 1949 Knoetzsch 4-247 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. I. GROSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOILET SEAT ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS BETWEEN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AND A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION RELATIVE TO A TOILET BOWL, SAID SEAT BEING FORMED WITH TWO HOLLOW SEAT CUSHIONS, EACH HOUSING A WEB OF PAPER, A STRIP OF WHICH BEING ADAPTED TO BE DRAWN OVER THE SEAT CUSHION, CLAMPED AND CUT OFF ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEAT CUSHION BY A MECHANISM COMPRISING TWO ROLLS, AT LEAST ONE ROLL BEING ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED BY MEANS OF THE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT, THROUGH A COUPLING ENGAGING IN ONE ROTATIONAL DIRECTION BETWEEN THE ROLL AND A SPINDLE DRIVEN BY THE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT, BY MEANS OF A FLEXIBLE PULL MEMBER, ONE END OF WHICH IS SECURED TO THE BODY OF THE SEAT, THE FLEXIBLE PULL MEMBER BEING GUIDED SUCCESSIVELY OVER A FIRST SHEAVE HAVING A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE BOWL AND A SECOND SHEAVE HAVING A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE SEAT BODY, THE OTHER END OF THE FLEXIBLE PULL MEMBER WOUND ABOUT THE SPINDLE AND SECURED THERETO, ONE ROLL BEING PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE RIB EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH OF SAID ONE ROLL, THE OTHER ROLL BEING PROVIDED WITH A GROOVE CORRESPONDING WITH THE RIB ON THE SAID ONE ROLL. 